Pass the plate.

On this day in 1730 Josiah Wedgwood was born. An English potter, he is perhaps best known for "jasper ware", the blue and white pottery that instantly identifies English pottery around the world. Started in 1774 it is still being made today.

Early in his career he met and became friends with Erasmus Darwin and when long time business associate Thomas Bentley died, he asked Erasmus to come on board. Josiah's daughter wound up marrying Erasmus's son and they had, amongst other children, you guessed it, Charles Darwin.